LUNGS (1973) by Townes Van Zandt live at the Old Quarter

Townes Van Zandt is a singer songwriter, who did not have the success he deserved in his lifetime, but who now is recognised as being one of the best. He is perhaps best known for his song 'Pancho and Lefty'. That and 'Waiting Around To Die' are probably my favourites and are featured to good effect in the film 'Heartworn Highways'. This song, 'Lungs', is up there with them. It was recorded live at the Old Quarter, Houston, just Townes and his guitar. Anyone wanting to buy their first Townes CD, I would recommend that one. Check out Townes Van Zandt Central for CDs and merchandise, as it benefits Townes' family.

The following is summarised from Wikipedia: While alive, Van Zandt was labeled as a cult musician: though he had a small and devoted fanbase, he never had a successful album or single, and even had difficulty keeping his recordings in print. In 1983, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard covered his song "Pancho and Lefty", scoring a number one hit on the Billboard country music charts. Despite achievements like these, the bulk of his life was spent touring various dive bars, often living in cheap motel rooms, backwoods cabins and on friends' couches. Van Zandt was notorious for his drug addictions, alcoholism, and his tendency to tell tall tales. He suffered from manic depression, and attempts to treat it with insulin shock therapy erased much of his long-term memory. He died on New Years Day 1997 from health problems stemming from years of substance abuse. The 2000s saw a resurgence of interest in Van Zandt. During the decade, two books, a documentary film and a number of magazine articles about the singer were created. Van Zandt's music has been covered by such notable and varied musicians as Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Norah Jones, Steve Earle and The Meat Puppets.

There is no film available for this recording, or much available of Townes at his peak (as he certainly was when this was recorded in July 1973). So I have put together a slideshow of mostly early images of Townes.

Comments and ratings are invited.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• townes
• van
• zandt
• lungs
• singer
• songwriter
• michaelbackhouse

[tallboySR]

This guy is just fucking legendary.

[tompetty832002]

best recording of the song ever

[scurvdog84]

@ThelynxAZ I agree, I think that one person must be Justin Beiber, obviously!

[HColette]

Poetry

[johnnymccrowe]

@danielsmdoyle i think your thinking of the clip of townes playing dollar bill blues, kinda a similar guitar vibe, it was actually recorded for austin city limits, i think it was called austin pickers or something like that at the time,

[writersblock26]

Thank you for posting this, wilsonmcphert.

[ThelynxAZ]

1 person is going to get their head bashed in..

[Rantomon]

Cheers for putting this up... If you let Townes in you'll never be alone in this world :-)

[danielsmdoyle]

i could've sworn there's film of this -- is that not the old quarter show on the be here to love me doc? with townes standing up playing in the hippy pants? or was that a different show?

[morleydotes666]

as i sit here, i feel i should be with my son. i'll be there forever more, full of gladness that i have that time. thank you townes...

[chellerose99]

would give ANYTHING if i could've been there... cr

[grimey82]

fingers walk the darkness down mind is on the midnight